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Happ to open Grapefruit League slate vs. Phillies

J.A. Happ suffered a scary injury in '13 and was rusty when he returned, but he will again need to find the strike zone more often in '14

By Gregor Chisholm
/
MLB.com |

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Left-hander J.A. Happ will take the mound when the Blue Jays open their Grapefruit League schedule Wednesday against the Phillies at 1:05 p.m. ET on MLB.TV.

Happ is expected to throw two frames and will then add one inning to his workload with each additional start. Happ's expected to begin the year as the club's No. 4 starter, but in theory, he could be held back until Toronto's fifth game of the season in order to start the home opener vs. the Yankees.

The Blue Jays have yet to announce the remainder of their pitching schedule for Spring Training, but a schedule is expected to be released by Sunday or Monday. R.A. Dickey has already been announced as Toronto's Opening Day starter, so pitching coach Pete Walker is in the process of working back from that date in his preparations.

Happ entered last year's camp without a job, but he then proceeded to post a 1.90 ERA in 23 2/3 Grapefruit League innings and eventually took the spot away from left-hander Ricky Romero, who was demoted to Class A Advanced Dunedin.